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Dog run improvements continue

By Kathy Prucnell, Islander Reporter

Volunteer Chris Arnold works May 31 on a shelter for folks who visit Birdie Tebbetts Field in Holmes Beach to exercise their pets. City workers and citizens continued to work together last week on improvements in the dog run. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Improvements to the new dog run have been snowballing in the month after the city of Holmes Beach put up a fence on the outfield perimeter of Birdie Tebbetts Field to create an area exclusively for people wanting to exercise their pets.

Donations of time and $1,150 have come in, according to advocate Barbara Parkman, to improve the dog run at 62nd Street and Flotilla Drive, Holmes Beach.

The funds will go toward the purchase of eight trees for shade, six hollies and two live oaks and a double gate— to keep dogs from escaping, which Parkman said will be installed in about a week.

“I am so excited about this project. The dog owners have contributed very generously,” she said.

Parkman is a longtime city resident who sought, along with some 30-50 dog owners, to use the city field to exercise their pets.

A shelter provided by the city is nearly finished, just awaiting a roof, she said.

The public works department is assembling two benches, donated by Bob and Alice Longworth, which soon will be placed in the dog run, Parkman said.

Several trees have been planted by the city, and some crape myrtles were planted by Parkman’s son-in-law, resident Mike Cappello.

“Joe Duennes is the nicest man imaginable,” she said of the public works superintendent. “He would have our trees planted wherever I want them.”

A source of water for the dogs is still “hoped for,” Parkman added.

A bank account has been opened in the name of “Dog Park Organization” at Hancock Bank, 5324 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, where donations are welcome, she said.

The dog park organization also will be looking for a better name, she said. Details on a contest to name the facility will be announced in the next week or so, she said.

For more information, call Parkman at 941-778-3390.

Dog run yard sale set

Tails are a waggin’ for a yard sale to benefit the dog run in Holmes Beach.

The sale will be held 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 9, in the common area behind 430 62nd St., Holmes Beach.

Organizers are looking for donated items in good condition, and volunteers to work at the sale.

Donated items should be priced and dropped off Friday, June 8, or before the sale begins on Saturday.